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Gas prices likely helped limit crashes

Editor:Lebanon Daily News

Updated:
03/06/2009 10:22:44 PM EST

This is in response to Barbara West’s Feb. 18 article, “Did higher gas prices drive down crashes?” In this article, North Londonderry police Chief Snyder questioned whether fewer accidents in 2008 may be, at least in part, a result of higher gasoline prices.

We think the chief is right.

In a January poll of our regional database participants, 73 percent reported changing driving habits, such as driving less or slower, when gas prices were in the $4-per-gallon range. Federal and state agencies report fewer vehicle miles traveled in 2008, as measured by a drop in gasoline-tax revenue. The Governors’ Highway Safety Association just reported an average 10.7 percent decline in highway fatalities in the states last year.

Clearly, high gas prices drove habit changes and decreased accidents. Fortunately, in our poll 82 percent report they did not go back to their old driving habits when gas fell to $2 or less.

Commuter Services’ goal is to reduce traffic for pollution and congestion reduction but also to reduce accidents.

While the chief continues his vigilant traffic enforcement, we’ll continue promoting commuting options like transit, carpools and vanpools that get more cars off the road. Together we can make our highways safer.